credential Git Command Guide

The git credential command retrieves, stores, or erases credentials (username and password) for remote Git repositories. It provides a standardized interface for credential helpers and is typically used internally by Git operations.

git credential Syntax:

git credential <subcommand> [<options>]

Options (shared):

Option	Description
-h, —help	Display help information
-c, —config =	Set configuration key/value

Subcommands:

Subcommand	Description
get	Return credential for given parameters
store	Store given credential
erase	Remove credential from store

Parameters (input/output format):

Name	Description
protocol	Protocol to use (http, https)
host	Remote host name
path	Path within remote repository
username	User name
password	User password

Caution

Credentials may contain sensitive information. Use secure credential helpers and avoid plaintext storage in untrusted environments.

git credential Command Samples:

Get stored credentials

echo "protocol=https
host=github.com
path=user/repo" | git credential get

Retrieves stored username and password for GitHub.

Store new credentials

echo "protocol=https
host=github.com
username=johndoe
password=secret" | git credential store

Saves credentials to the credential store.

Erase stored credentials

echo "protocol=https
host=github.com
username=johndoe" | git credential erase

Removes credentials for the specified user from store.

Use with credential helper

git config --global credential.helper store

Configures Git to use the store helper which uses git credential for storage.

Tip

git credential is primarily for credential helpers and scripts. End users typically interact with credential helpers indirectly through Git operations.

How do I store Git credentials for remote access?

To store Git credentials for remote access, use a credential helper that uses:

git credential store

How can I erase stored Git credentials?

To erase stored Git credentials, run:

echo "protocol=https
host=hostname
username=username" | git credential erase

How do I retrieve stored credentials?

To retrieve stored credentials, execute:

echo "protocol=https
host=hostname
path=path" | git credential get

What credential helpers are available?

Git provides several credential helpers including cache, store, and third-party helpers for integration with password managers or system keychains.

How do I configure a credential helper?

To configure a credential helper, use:

git config --global credential.helper <helper-name>

Applications of the git credential command

1. Providing credentials for HTTPS authentication with remote repositories
2. Integrating with password managers and system keychains
3. Supporting SSO and OAuth authentication flows
4. Managing multiple identities across different hosting services
5. Automating credential handling in CI/CD pipelines
6. Secure storage and retrieval of repository access tokens